The transnational criminal enterprise of Kapil Sangwan, one of Delhi's most wanted fugitives, currently extends far beyond India's borders. Approximately 12 years ago, Sangwan lived as an ordinary student before embarking on a trajectory that led him to direct murder, extortion, and robbery syndicates across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and Rajasthan from his current base in London. Heightened enforcement measures led Maharashtra Police to charge him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) last year, alongside an international Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol for his arrest. After establishing his retreat in the United Kingdom, Sangwan brought nearly his entire family over to London, while his incarcerated elder brother, Jyoti Prakash alias Baba, manages ground operations across Delhi and neighboring regions from inside prison.
From Hospitality Student to First Police Record
Law enforcement documentation indicates that Kapil Sangwan entered the world of crime approximately 12 years ago in 2014. Prior to 2014, he completed his 12th-grade education in the Vikaspuri locality of Delhi. Seeking higher vocational training, he subsequently secured admission to a hotel management institution situated in Manesar, Haryana. However, his academic journey lasted only a few months before he abandoned his hotel management studies to pursue criminal activities.
According to senior Delhi Police officials, Sangwan's name was officially entered into police records for the first time in 2014. The initial allegations involved firing weapons at the home of Naresh Kumar and demanding an extortion payment of Rs 30 lakh from Naresh's nephew, Lalit. Both incidents led to the registration of formal First Information Reports (FIRs) at the Chhawla police station. In November 2014, his involvement was recorded in an attempted murder case in the Chhawla area as well as an armed robbery in the Jind district of Haryana.
Brother-in-Law's Murder and the Vow of Revenge
A critical catalyst occurred in 2015 that permanently altered Sangwan's path. His brother-in-law, Sunil alias Doctor, was shot dead in broad daylight following a dispute over money and loans with Nafe alias Mantri, an associate of the rival Manjeet Mahal gang. At the time of the fatal shooting, Sangwan's elder brother, Jyoti Prakash alias Baba, was already detained in prison.
Communicating from behind bars, Jyoti Baba instructed his younger brother Kapil to exact revenge for their brother-in-law's death at any cost. Driven by family pressure and retribution, Sangwan mobilized criminal associates and assassinated Nafe's father, Harikishan Singh, in December 2015. Following the retaliation, Sangwan issued an explicit threat to his adversaries: "We will not kill you, we will make you cry tears of blood."
The 'Trigger-Happy' Label and Extortion Network
The murder of Harikishan Singh triggered an aggressive gang war between the Kapil Sangwan syndicate and the Manjeet Mahal gang. Sangwan proceeded to establish an organized extortion network across South West Delhi, targeting real estate developers, prominent businessmen, and traders. His modus operandi involved delivering initial death threats over telephone calls, followed immediately by firing shots at the victim's premises to instill panic, and ultimately extorting sums amounting to crores of rupees.
Sangwan's volatile temper and inclination to discharge firearms indiscriminately earned him the designation 'Trigger-Happy' within police registers and gang circles. His operations systematically targeted commercial figures throughout South West Delhi, establishing widespread intimidation as the syndicate expanded its reach.
Encounter Arrest, Farmhouse Parole Party, and Escape
In 2016, Rajasthan Police apprehended Kapil Sangwan following an armed encounter. Following his arrest, Sangwan remained in prison from 2016 to 2019. Upon securing parole in 2019, he immediately organized a large party at a farmhouse in Najafgarh, inviting several high-profile criminals from South West Delhi and Haryana.
Alerted to the gathering, the Delhi Police Crime Branch conducted a raid on the farmhouse premises. Police officers arrested 22 criminals at the scene, but Sangwan managed to evade the police cordon and escaped. Following the raid, he defaulted on his parole conditions, refused to return to prison, and went into hiding.
Fraudulent Documents, Transit via Thailand, and Operation from London
While absconding in 2020, Sangwan obtained a fraudulent passport from Bareilly district in Uttar Pradesh by utilizing forged identification credentials. Equipped with this false document, he exited India and fled to Thailand. After staying in Thailand for a period, he traveled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates before making his way to the United Kingdom.
Police sources reveal that Sangwan's brother Jyoti Baba and henchman Dhiren Kariya also attempted to flee abroad on forged passports, but law enforcement interventions foiled their plans. Upon reaching London, Sangwan established permanent residency and relocated his family members to join him. Today, he directs hitmen and criminal operations across India in coordination with his brother Jyoti Prakash alias Baba, who transmits instructions from behind bars.
High-Profile Crimes Linked to the Sangwan Syndicate
The Kapil Sangwan syndicate has been directly implicated by law enforcement agencies in multiple major violent crimes in recent years
- Murder of Manjeet Mahal's Father (January 2017): Shrikishan, the father of rival gangster Manjeet Mahal, was shot dead in Mitraon village, Najafgarh. The hit was executed by the Sangwan and Jyoti Baba gang to avenge the earlier murder of Sangwan's brother-in-law.
- Murder of BJP Leader Surendra Matiyala (April 2023): Surendra Kumar Solanki alias Surendra Matiyala, a local BJP leader in Najafgarh, was shot dead. Police investigations confirmed the involvement of the Sangwan gang, stemming from ongoing gang rivalries.
- Murder of INLD Leader Nafe Singh Rathee (February 2024): Nafe Singh Rathee, the Haryana state president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), and party worker Jai Kishan were gunned down in Bahadurgarh. Sangwan subsequently took responsibility for the double murder in an Instagram post, citing Rathee's close connections with Manjeet Mahal as the primary motivation.
- Murder of Ballu Pahlwan (January 2024): Surajbhan alias Ballu Pahlwan was shot dead outside a gym in Faridabad. Police investigations established that the killing was an act of retaliation connected to the Sangwan syndicate's gang war.
- Panchkula Incident (December 2024): The syndicate was also named in connection with a violent shooting incident in the Pinjore locality of Panchkula, underscoring its operational activity across state borders.
